Bill and Wendy's ickcillint adventures

Winter is ordained to follow fall. As you know, we have been living at the lake, but the lovely Indian summer (is it still appropriate to call it that?) is about to give way to freezing wind, snow and sleet. As the cabin has no central heating, the water pipes need draining soon to prevent the pipes from freezing and bursting. All liquids such as vinegar, oil, wine, soya sauce, canned goods and other sundry liquids need removal from the cabin for the same reason. So, given our yet again delay, we have necessarily rented new lodging for ourselves. Susan and Lee Charlton, some people we know, offered us their suite. As it is near the hospital, they use it as short term accommodation for hospital visitors from out of town, medical interns training at the hospital or nursing students here on practicum. It is ideal for us for several reasons. First, we don’t have to sign a lease, therefore are free to leave if and when our visa is granted. Secondly, we are close to the hospital, so can vi...

You guessed it. Grounded again. Here is a portion of the email we received this morning from the Sri Lankan folks at CUSO-VSO: Dear Wendy I am writing to give an update on the visa situation here in Sri Lanka. You will be aware that for a long time there has been a complex process for obtaining visas for volunteers and staff. At times, the granting of visas happened very close to planned travel dates of volunteers, which was particularly stressful for the individuals traveling. However, except when trying to fill placements in “high security” areas, we have been successful in getting the visas through on time. Over the past three months the government has been instituting a new process for visas, which involves obtaining security clearance before the granting of visas. Previously, visas were granted and the clearance applied for after arrival. Unfortunately, this new process is proving to be a lengthy one. There is no way to speed this up, though we had meetings today with releva...

We are keeping warm!  We have toques and fleeces and blankets.  While having our morning coffee the other day, I looked across at my loved one, wearing his striped grey/blue toque.  I casually commented, "You look like Dopey".  Several minutes later, I heard a defensive retort from the outhouse, "I do not look like Dopey.  Dopey doesn't have a mustache!"  Dopey, apparently caught sight of himself in the mirror nailed to the outhouse. Judge for yourself: It is actually quite fun living at the lake. I have never been out there this late in the year and the weather is fine, the trees are turning crimson and gold. Deer are feeding on the beach at night and the mountain sheep are flocking into large groups. Bill is animated; he truly believes that we are actually departing to Sri Lanka this time. Forgive my cynicism, but I am less than lively about the certainty. I have donned cynicism and pulled up a lap robe of scepticism as protection against disappoi...